In late summer of 2016, RAI Jets opened a 30,000-square-foot hangar at the Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport (AZO) to expand our aircraft operations. The hangar accommodated our growing fleet of aircraft and allowed us to serve our customers better. Located less than an hour away from our original location in Sturgis, Michigan, at the Kirsch Municipal Airport (KIRS), it was a move that helped us grow our aircraft operations immensely.
AZO is a centrally-located, busy airport served by two commercial airlines–American and Delta—in addition to jet charter operators like RAI Jets. Its strategic location near major highways means quick commutes for those heading to or from their flights, and the regional focus means less traffic congestion compared to large metropolitan airports.
AZO serves as a base for corporate flight departments and FBOs. Oasionally, a historic WWII plane, like the Stearman, can be seen at AZO for a special event at the Air Zoo, where the history of aviation is continually celebrated. During the COVID-19 crisis, people gathered to watch the landing of Air Force One for a presidential visit to Pfizer.
We feel we are now part of the airport’s long history, which dates back to 1929 when it was licensed as Lindbergh Field, the first municipal airport in Michigan. In 1982, as the Riley brothers were first forming the aviation company that would grow to become RAI Jets, AZO was operating as the Kalamazoo County airport. Over the next decade, the terminal was completely renovated and doubled in size to accommodate the growth in passenger traffic, which hit 500,000 by 1993. While AZO grew, so did our aircraft operations at KIRS.
Jet Charter Services at AZO
From our residence at AZO, we help our customers fly throughout the country and abroad. Our jet charter customers enjoy free parking, hassle-less boarding, and the on-board luxury you can expect from private aviation.
Our current AZO location accommodates our aircraft operations well. The hangar has an adjacent office space as well as a comfortable waiting area for our passengers. The hangar itself is a clean and functional space for our fleet, with extra room to rent to aircraft owners.
The AZO location is the headquarters of all our aircraft operations, including our Part 145 Repair Station, the RAI Jets Service Center. We are proud of our maintenance team’s years of experience and versatile skillset. They provide Inspection Authorization (IA) and Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) certified service, including light and heavy maintenance on a variety of different aircraft:
- Beechjet 400(A)
- Challenger 600 Series
- Citation III, VI, VII, X, and 560/XLS
- Hawker 800 and 900
- Falcon 2000 and 900
RAI Jet’s hangar at AZO is also a base for our aircraft management services. We provide discerning aircraft owners with attentive, well-managed, turnkey aircraft operations. As your in-house flight department, we assume responsibility for all maintenance, tracking and inspections, training staff and crew, hangar space, industry compliance, and hangar space. Customers who allow us to charter their jet can save up to 50% on their total operating costs.
The Future with AZO
Entering 2025, we are looking ahead to another expansion at AZO with the addition of a second hangar. Although the plans are still in motion, we look forward to being part of AZO’s future history. In the meantime, we continue expanding our aircraft operations, including jet charter, maintenance, and aircraft management services, to contribute to the bustling aviation hub that is our home airport. When we’re at AZO, we’re home, and if you get a chance to fly with us, we know you’ll feel at home too!
